A Revelation

While visiting my Dad in Spokane last week we had a conversation about the Staly name change when my father was about 5 years old.  We concluded he must have been born Thomas Staeheli.  Dad thought this had not been the case.  He found his birth certificate in his files and it confirmed that he was, indeed, born Thomas Charles Staeheli. 

Visiting Staeheli's near Seattle

My Dad, Tom Staly Sr., and I will drive to Kenmore on October 20 to visit Bob and Daphne Dempsey.  While there we will see Therese and some others who may be available to share knowledge of our family.  I will have my digital movie camera and will take oral histories from any willing relatives.  The information developed from that trip will be added to the website.

Adding to the Family Tree

To add information to the family tree it will be necessary to download Family Tree Builder which is used to create a family and to revise family information.  After the changes have been made on Family Tree Builder then it is published to My Heritage website to be shared with others.  Both Family Tree Builder  and My Heritage are free to use, however, there are enhanced versions for sale or subscription.  For now I am using the free versions.

Revising the Staeheli name

I received an email from Pat Staeheli who made the point that the family changed the Swiss spelling of Staheli (with an umlaut "a") to the Americanized spelling Staeheli after they arrived in the United States.  The Staeheli form is still used by most descendants of Caspar and Maria today.  Consequently, I have revised my blog, website and genealogical sites.  When referencing the ancestors who lived in Switzerland I will use the Swiss spelling when my word processor supports that. 

I have started using the genealogy software Family Tree Builder along with the website MyHeritage.com and am inviting all Staeheli's to add information about their ancestors to the site.  In time we will build a more complete story of the Staeheli's in the U.S.

New map presentation

Yesterday I consulted with my technology expert, Arlis Hoglen, who recommended I download Picasa from Google to crop my photos and JPG files.  I had scanned the maps to JPG so it was a simple task to crop the maps and then place them in the website.  Now the maps are easier to see and there is minimal scrolling necessary to see the entire maps.  I will use Picasa as my default photo viewing software as well as for photo management. 
A new task will be to scan the birth and property records of the Staheli family and place them on the website.

More maps

I have added a map from 1899 showing locations in Straubenzell before Kubel Elektrik built Gubsensee and the powerplant.  Gubsenmosli (Gubsenmoos) is visible as well as Kubel and the villages listed as birthplaces of the Staheli children.  Altenwegen, Holzli and Gubsen can be seen.  I can not yet resolve that there appear to be two locations with the name Holzli.

Because I do not yet have technical skills to size the maps for the computer screen it will be necessary to scroll around the page to see all the map features.  In time I will correct the size for viewer convenience.

Additions to the website

I have added several maps to the website.  Viewers may need to have Google Earth on their computers to see the maps.  It is a relatively easy task to download Google Earth and it is free. 

The names of the 14 children of Caspar albert and Maria now have dedicated locations on the website.  Specific information about each of the children and their families will be added as it becomes available.

I have provided information about Carl Anton since that information is available to me.